Public Administration

Program Overview

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at the University of Illinois Chicago prepares students for careers in public service and the nonprofit sector. The program provides a comprehensive understanding of public administration, develops analytical and problem-solving skills, and fosters a commitment to ethical conduct. Graduates are equipped to work in various roles, including policy analyst, program manager, and nonprofit executive.

Program Outline

• To develop students' analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• To prepare students for leadership roles in public and nonprofit organizations.
• To foster a commitment to public service and ethical conduct.

Program Description:

The MPA program at UIC is a 40-credit hour program that can be completed in as little as two years of full-time study. The program consists of a core curriculum and a variety of elective courses. The core curriculum covers the fundamental principles of public administration, including public policy analysis, organizational theory, financial management, human resource management, and ethics. Elective courses allow students to specialize in a particular area of interest, such as urban planning, public finance, or nonprofit management.

Outline

Program Content:

The MPA program curriculum at UIC includes the following core courses:

• Foundations of Public Service (PA 401): This course examines the political, legal, economic, and social environment of public service, the internal dynamics of public organizations, the relationship between public organizations and external stakeholders, and the ethical and moral challenges related to public service.
• Principles of Data Analysis (PA 402): This course covers topics and methods of analyzing information relevant to the administration and management of public programs and organizations.
It includes content focused on causation, univariate statistics, significance testing, correlation, and regression.
• Economics for Management and Policy (PA 403): This course introduces participants to basic economic tools and methods relevant to public administration and current policy.
Course topics include opportunity cost, supply and demand, rational choice, production costs, competition versus monopoly, economic efficiency versus equity, market failure, and public goods.
• Public Management (PA 421): This course explores theories, concepts, and applications of management in public organizations.
Subjects include bureaucracy, public versus private organizations, leadership, motivation, managing organizational change, discretion, and networks.
• Ethics and Accountability (PA 522): This course helps students gain insights into achieving better government through institutionalizing ethics and accountability.
Key areas of instruction include the effectiveness of boards of ethics, Inspector General, codes of ethics, and educational programs, alongside a survey of the history of ethics within the Western intellectual tradition.

Structure:

The MPA program is structured as follows:

• Core Curriculum (24 credit hours): The core curriculum consists of the required courses listed above.
• Elective Courses (16 credit hours): Students can choose from a variety of elective courses to meet their individual interests and career goals.
A sample of topics includes;
• Public Policy Development and Process (PA 506)
• Strategic Management: Planning and Measurement (PA 521)
• Labor Management Relations in the Public Sector (PA 532)
• Financial Management in Public Administration (PA 554)
• Field Experience (optional):
Students can find the most up-to-date course schedule on the UIC website.

Modules:

Each course in the MPA program is considered a module. Each module has its own set of learning objectives, syllabus, and readings.

Teaching

Teaching Methods:

The MPA program uses a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, case studies, simulations, and group projects.

Faculty:

The MPA program faculty are experienced professionals with expertise in public administration, public policy, and related fields. They are committed to providing students with a high-quality education and preparing them for successful careers in public service.

• Service-Learning: Students have the opportunity to apply their classroom learning to real-world problems through service-learning projects.
• Case Studies: Students have the opportunity to analyze real-world case studies of public administration issues.
• Simulations: Students have the opportunity to participate in simulations of public policy decision-making.

Careers

Career Paths:

Graduates of the MPA program at UIC have gone on to work in a variety of careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Some common career paths for MPA graduates include:

• Policy Analyst
• Program Manager
• Nonprofit Executive
• Public Administration Consultant
• City Manager
Some common career opportunities for MPA graduates include:

• Working for non-profit organizations
• Working for consulting firms that specialize in public administration